The Villa Times - 24/07/2008

Martin O'Neill has avoided questions linking Villa to Friedel but has said of the transfer window: 'We're in the throes of trying to improve our team and we need to. But I'd prefer to stay rather general on these points and not comment on all the reports and speculation. There are things that we want to do and we've got a couple of weeks to try and improve the team - actually we've got to the end of August - but ideally it would be great if the season was kicking-off and we had a number of players in position. We are working as hard as we possibly can do behind the scenes to improve our squad, which we need to, and that hard work will continue.'

And there are quotes from Martin O'Neill today saying he is fed up with the Gareth Barry saga and although he would like him to stay, wants the situation sorted out one way or the other very soon + he says he might well be in line to play on Saturday v Odense BK: O'Neill Still Wants Gareth Barry To Stay At Villa

Press talk for Thursday is pretty short on the ground, apart from the Barry saga we have talk of Brad Friedel's move being held up by Rovers want for a replacement first and also more Shaun Wright Phillips and Younes Kaboul links. Full article: Thursday's Press Talk For Aston Villa

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Craig Gardner says the Villa must make sure they finish the job against Odense on Saturday warning that they can't afford to blow the chance of Uefa Cup football next season. 'We can't mess it up now. We worked so hard all last season and now we're so close to qualifying for the UEFA Cup. But Odense are no mugs and we'll give them plenty of respect at Villa Park on Saturday. They came from behind twice last weekend so they won't give up.' Adding on the official site: 'I want to play in European football this season and the rest of the lads are just as determined to get through to the UEFA Cup.'

Vital Villan: Season Ticket sales for the coming season are up 7% on this time last year. The Villa faithful, despite transfer concerns, are voting with their bums! After an extraordinary season last campaign, and consistently high gates, the club were confident that fans would respond when it came to season tickets this year, but I doubt even the club predicted a seven per cent increase. Full article: Season Tickets Soar

Vital Villan: Ashley Young is at it again, last season all he would talk about was getting into Europe - now he's started on the Top 4 speeches! Speaking on the official site, Young said: 'This really could be the year we break into the top four! We came sixth last season and the next step is to finish in the Champions League places.' Full article: Young - Top 4 Aim

Vital Villan: After having a somewhat inconsistent and 'homesick' season, Shaun Maloney is hoping to get the chance to build on his performance against Walsall the other night. Speaking to the official site, he said: 'Fingers crossed I can play a part against Odense. The boys played pretty well in patches in Odense so I think it will be difficult to break into the starting line-up for the second leg. But I`ve done all I can so hopefully the manager knows I`m ready if the call comes. Saturday is a great opportunity to move closer to the UEFA Cup but at the same time we can`t afford to be complacent.' Full article: Maloney Looking For Impact

We reported on Tuesday: Martin O'Neill has blasted reports in the press that Villa have bid £5million for Valencia's giant striker Nikola Zigic are totally wide of the mark. In an unusual step, to help quell the rumour, he said: 'There's not a grain of truth in the story that we've put in an offer for the player and I don't know where it's coming from.'

Vital Villa asked Which winger would you like to see at Villa Park? Chelsea's Shaun Wright-Phillips came out top with 34%, David Bentley was next up with 21% closely followed by the option to give Maloney a chance, at 18%. Only 3% wanted Aaron Lennon, the rest wanted Wayne Routledge to get a chance.

Comments

The pressure is mounting on MON and the board to actually sign a few players and a "big-name" signing. I'm a fan and like many others share the frustration of the last 3 windows. Villa fans just don't want too see us in the same boat again. One things for sure, we wont have a big squad next season (again!) but we at least need 17 senior professionals, not a handfull! We have rode our luck with injuries for far too long! anyway rant over! LL

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So far our activity in the transfer window stinks. We're told that we've been perservering targets for weeks, so presumably we can expect some positive news very shortly. I have not been impressed Martin...once again!!